Wareham Youth Soccer kicks off new season with goals of having fun
Jaidell Harrison and Carter Lyons chest bump after a goal. Photos by Brandy Muz
Despite their team differences, Carter Lyons and Khyri Gifford share a high five
Sophia Delgado waits to toss the ball to the ref
Following the game, Liverpool Gray celebrates with their coach Kelsey McKenna
A pack of kindergarten and first graders chase after the ball
Hands in his face at the silly interactions between the kids, CJ Garrick carries on with his ref duties
A gray team member prepares a throw
Marcel Merrit causes a tumble on the field with his kick
A gold team member kicks toward the goal
Goalie shows his rock and roll hands through his gloves
Khyri Gifford takes a shot 
Coach Adam Alexander gives a thumbs up to his team
Jaidell Harrison and Carter Lyons chest bump after a goal. Photos by Brandy Muz
Despite their team differences, Carter Lyons and Khyri Gifford share a high five
Sophia Delgado waits to toss the ball to the ref
Following the game, Liverpool Gray celebrates with their coach Kelsey McKenna
A pack of kindergarten and first graders chase after the ball
Hands in his face at the silly interactions between the kids, CJ Garrick carries on with his ref duties
A gray team member prepares a throw
Marcel Merrit causes a tumble on the field with his kick
A gold team member kicks toward the goal
Goalie shows his rock and roll hands through his gloves
Khyri Gifford takes a shot
Coach Adam Alexander gives a thumbs up to his team
Usually with soccer games, when dozens of parents shout to their children that they're kicking into the opposing teams goal — it counts negatively to the overall score. But with Wareham Youth Soccer, there is no counting at all.
The soccer club was formed in 1986 and is run by volunteers with over 200 players, ages 4 through eighteen. They run one recreational league made up of Wareham kids who meet every Saturday to duke it out at home, and the travel team that cruises the South Coast to compete against other towns.
Field Coordinator, Rick Stuchlak, has had many positions within the club over the past 35 years. He attended the opening game Saturday, Sept. 13 to support his grandson who was playing for the Liverpool Gray team.
"All of my kids actually grew up and went through this program," he said.
The children on the field fell, sang and danced throughout the match, each with a t-shirt hanging down to their knees. Stuchlak said that he was there for obtaining the very field the kids played on.
"We did all the work ourselves," he said.
Coach of the Liverpool Gold team, Adam Alexander, said it's fun to train kids so young. His team competed against Liverpool Gray, both unisex teams with children kindergarten through first grade.
While attention spans can prove to be challenging, Alexander said it is worth it to see the kids smile and learn.
"It's important for them to learn the game and basic skills — to just love being outdoors. Whether its soccer or something else it beats sitting at home playing video games," he said.
Camdyn Richards played for the gold team and has been in soccer for three years. His favorite thing is running and he hoped to use his skills to score a goal.
"I don't really have a least favorite thing about soccer," he said.
For Jaidell Harrison, who played for the gray team, he shared similar sentiments.
"I don't like that I have to get off the field," he said. "I always want to play."
Jaidell could be seen high-fiving teammates and celebrating during the game. He said that teamwork was why he was able to get a goal.
"We were passing and doing it as a team so that way, we could make it easy so that the goalkeeper couldn't get us," he said.
Vice President, Naomi Terceira, participated in the club when she was a child and now watches her children play. Her son C.J was the referee for the gold and gray match.
"It's amazing," she said. "These kids are so stinkin' cute."
Terceria said her favorite part about game days is seeing how involved everybody is.
"Whether it's the parents, coaches or refs — everybody shows up with all of their kids. They're just here to have fun," she said.
Wareham Youth Soccer will meet every Saturday until Nov. 1 with games from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Terceria said she is excited to see what the coaches will do this season.
"They take a simple program idea and they mould it throughout the season. You never really know what to expect," she said.
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